It was a day of contrasting fortunes for the house sides Down Below because the Hockeyroos claimed a dominant victory over Spain whereas the Crimson Sticks managed to reverse that consequence within the males’s encounter.
(Males’s) Australia 1 – 2 Spain
Marc Recasens celebrated his 100th cap for Spain with a 2-1 win over hosts Australia. The Kookaburras fielded eight debutants and the nerves confirmed as they turned over possession with regularity. The Spanish attacked continuously with out reward, and the most effective alternative of the opening quarter fell to Australian debutant Cooper Burns who noticed his shot gloved extensive by a totally prolonged Luis Calzado.
The Crimson Sticks seemed harmful all through the second quarter, lacking a penalty nook and a fistful of possibilities from open play earlier than Pau Petchame’s 27th-minute objective. The Aussies missed two late alternatives and Spain maintained a slender 1-0 lead at half time.
Each groups missed early penalty corners in a hotly contested, goalless third quarter and the win was nonetheless up for grabs within the ultimate interval. Each goalkeepers have been known as into motion early, first Calzado with a very good leg save, after which Jed Snowden with a low diving save off a penalty nook. Spain prolonged their lead within the 50th minute, Nicolas Alvarez grabbing the objective from messy ball within the circle.
Snowden made one other glorious save to maintain the Kookaburras in competition with seven minutes remaining, and Ky Willott blasted them inside attain simply three minutes from time. Taking part in with out a keeper to chase the sport, Australia had one final crack within the dying seconds, however the match ended with their ultimate ball into the circle blown up for hazard.
The participant of the match went to Spain’s Gerard Clapes who stated: “We knew that right now was vital. Yesterday was fairly tough in opposition to the Netherlands so right now … it’s been good and good emotions and [we need to] simply maintain enjoying like this and maintain searching for victories like this one.”
(Girls’s) Australia 4 – 1 Spain
Hosts Australia kicked off their match with a promising 4-1 win over Spain within the corresponding girls’s fixture. Spain began rather well and have been denied an early objective by a very good save from Aleisha Energy. Australia then stepped as much as dominate the opening quarter, creating a few good alternatives earlier than debutant Jade Smith scrambled the opening objective from a mis-trapped penalty nook.
Spain labored their means into the sport extra within the second quarter, equalising within the 24th minute when Patricia Alvarez leapt on an Australian error and beat the keeper with a skilful aerial jink. The Crimson Sticks saved probing however the half-time hooter sounded with the scores locked at 1-1.
Australia cranked up the strain within the third quarter and Penny Squibb restored their lead together with her 35th-minute drag flick. Goalkeeper Clara Perez saved Spain in contact with a very good glove save, however she had no reply to Courtney Schonell’s deflection from open play within the 40th minute. There have been half possibilities at each ends however no additional targets within the quarter.
Spain created extra alternative than the Hockeyroos within the fourth interval, however it was Australia who had the ultimate phrase. Grace Younger fed a superb ball to Mariah Williams for a well-struck discipline objective within the 59th minute.
The participant of the match was awarded to Penny Squibb who stated: “It was quite a lot of enjoyable. It’s good to be again with the group after a good time without work because the Olympics, it’s the primary worldwide that we’ve had so yeah, this group is a fairly enjoyable group to be part of and loving it.”
Present Hero High Scorers:
Girls – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED (4 targets)
Males – Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) (8 targets)
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Professional League – 5 February 2025
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (AUS)
Males
Consequence: Match 14 (M)
Australia 1 – 2 Spain
Participant of the match: Gerard Clapes (ESP)
Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), David Tomlinson (NZL), Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)
Girls
Consequence: Match 14 (W)
Australia 4 – 1 Spain
Participant of the match: Penny Squibb (AUS)
Umpires: Xiaoying Liu (CHN), Katrina Turner (NZL), Amber Church (NZL-video)